1. On October 17, 1816, the first bank was established in Illinois, the Bank of Illinois in Shawneetown. It was also the first bank to be established in the entire state of Illinois.

2. In 1854, the Illinois Republican Party was established on October 17 in a campaign to stop the expansion of slavery in the United States. The party went on to become a major political force in the state, producing several influential Illinois politicians, including Abraham Lincoln.

3. On October 17, 1910, the first flight in Illinois was made by Arch Hoxsey, a pilot for the Wright Brothers. He flew from Grant Park in Chicago to Springfield, Illinois, covering a distance of 198 miles in just over three hours.

4. The Chicago Cubs won their first World Series championship on October 17, 1907, defeating the Detroit Tigers in a best-of-seven series. This historic moment marked the beginning of the Cubs' legacy as one of the oldest and most beloved franchises in Major League Baseball.

5. On October 17, 1989, the Chicago Bears set a record for the most points scored in a single quarter in the history of the NFL when they scored 28 points in the second quarter of a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bears went on to win the game 45-21.